Ontario’s agriculture and environment ministers announced a
goal of reducing neonicitinoid use by 80 per cent by 2016.
They hope to achieve that goal by reducing the number of
corn and soybean acres planted with neonicitinoid seed treatments.
Farmers find neonicitinoids effective in controlling worms
and bugs that attack their crops.
When they were introduced with federal government approval,
they were considered far safer than the pesticides farmers had been using.
They have, however, become the target of people worried
about bee mortality rates.
Experts researching the reasons for bee death rates say
there are many factors, but agree that neonicitinoids do play a role.
Ontario’s goal includes reducing bee mortality rates to 15
per cent by 2020. There is no mention of the other factors, such as the
nutritional health of bee colonies, in the government’s news release which
contains pictures of Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal and Environment Minister
Glen Murray.
Neither one knows a whole lot about farming or beekeeping, but both know a lot about politics.
The news release says the government will consult with farm
organizations and other stakeholders until July 1, 2015, which means nothing
will happen for the upcoming planting season.
Corn and soybean growers have said they need clarity about
regulations as soon as possible because they are ordering seeds now, hoping to
get some of the most popular varieties before supplies run out.
